05 May On Your Mark
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An integral part of successful training is a reward marker. A marker can take a few different forms: visual (a handsign,) verbal (“Yes!”) or audible ( like a click.) Regardless of form, a reward mark always means the same thing: what you did at that moment earns you good stuff!
Using a marker helps your pup know exactly what he did was correct– the behavior he did when the visual, verbal, or audible gesture was given will stand out to him, and he will repeat it.
But first…
…He has to learn the marker itself. To teach a reward marker, simply give the mark and give your dog a treat. For example, if you’re using a verbal marker (“Yes!”), you’d say “Yes” and put a treat to your dog’s nose, then repeat 20 – 30 times. Yes – treat; Yes – treat …until you get to the goal: When your pup hears the word “Yes!” and immediately snaps his head around to you with that “Where’s my treat?!?” look, you’re seeing his progress.
With a marker primed to go, you’re ready to implement it in everyday training. When you use the “Yes” word you’re saying “Do that again,”’ so be careful with your timing when you say “Yes” so you’re highlighting the desired action!
For example…
…let’s pretend your pup is approaching a person to say hello. You know your pup will keep his paws on the ground at first, but that he tends to jump up after a couple of seconds. This time, however, just before you think he’ll jump, you mark with a “Yes!” and reward in that moment. That mark just said “I like what you’re doing! You’re getting a reward for that!” You just let him know that you like the polite part of his greeting!
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Once you get your rhythm down, you’ll start to see a positive learning experience begin to grow. Your pup will find training much more clear and understandable, making it easier to focus on all the good stuff he’s doing!
Like we talked in our post about Problem Solving, it can be a great mental exercise for your pup to learn some cues on his own. By incorporating a marker, you’re essentially highlighting the good behavior when it happens. This is a great way to be hands-off, but still interactive with your pup during dog training sessions!
Timing…
…is very important when using a marker. Because you want to pinpoint an actual action, you need to use it during the desired performance. When he performs, you “Yes” simultaneously, and then reward. Perform & Mark, then Reward = “That was fun!!!” The reward is important, but doesn’t always have to be food. See our post on rewards for some more ideas!
Rewarding on time is something you may want to practice before starting marker training with your dog. If you “Yes” too early, too late, or rapid fire (Yes Yes Yes!) you’re going to send mixed signals. For an interesting experiment, teach a friend a simple task using a marker. You’ll get to practice your timing, and maybe get a few laughs out of the deal. Even if you do mess up at first, don’t worry. Pups (and most humans) are very forgiving, and know that we are only human.
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